Sound-box for sound recording and reproducing machines.



No. 724,435. PATENTED APR. 7 1903.. G K. CHENEY.

SOUND BOX FOR SOUND RBGBRDING AND REPRODUGING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1902.

' I0 menu. 4

, WITNESSES:

-' N AT'TORNY- i fn: uonm's was 00.. mom-Limo" WASNIN PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE K. CHENEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOUND-BOX FOR SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 724,435, dated April7, 1903.

Application filed April 16, 1902. Serial No- 103,153. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. CHENEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of the city of New York, county of New York,State of New York, have invent ed certain new and useful Improvements inSound-Boxes for Sound Recording and Reproducing Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to sound recording and reproducing machines, andmore specifically to certain improvements in the construction of thesound-box employed therein.

One embodiment of the invention is-illustrated in the accompanying sheetof drawings, throughout the several views of which likereferonce-numerals indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the lower side of thesound-box. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof as viewed in the directionindicated by the arrow V Fig. 3is a similar view looking in thedirection indicated bythe arrow V. Fig. 4 is a central verticalsectional view taken on the lines sof Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isa detail view inperspective of the recording-point and its su pp'ortingarm, and Fig. 6is a similar view of an interchangeable reproducing-stylus.

Referring to the drawings, the sound-box casing is represented asprovided in the usual manner with a tubular extension 1 for connectionwith the horn and a chamber 2 for the diaphragm. On the bottom of thischamher an annular seat 3 is formed, to which the diaphragm 4 isadhesively secured by wax or other suitable material. The seat may heformed by a single head having a concaved face or by two headsconcentrically arranged side by side. In' either case a retaininggrooveis provided for an annulus of wax,

on which the diaphragm is placed while the wax is soft and secured as ithardens.

The recording-point5 is formed in part with or rigidly secured toapproximately an L-shaped arm 6, the short member of which is waxed to adisk 7, of rubber or other elastic material, and this disk is in turnsecured directly to the diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 4. The free end ofthe long member of the L- shaped arm is secured centrally to a wire orstrip 8 of highly resilient metal, preferably steel, which has its endsremovably secured by screws in lugs 9 10 of a movable carriage 11.

The carriage has two adjustments, one to regulate the tension of the armon the diaphragm and the other to regulate the tension of the wire orstrip which carries the stylusarm. The adjustment of the carriage properis effected by mounting the same on guides 12 12, formed in part withthe sound-box casing, there being set-screws 13 13 for securing thecarriage inany position to which it may be adjusted on the guides. Thesecond adjustment is effected by mounting a blockl upon the carriageproper and shifting it as may be required by means of a screw 15, turning freely in a lug 16. The block 14 straddles the carriage and issecured as adjusted and limited in movement by a set-screw 17, workingin a slot 18. The lug 9, in which one end of the wire Sis secured, isformed in part with the block 14, and the lug 10 is integral'with thecarriage. Thus it will be seen that when the block is adjusted by thescrew 15 the wire may be drawn taut and tensioned as may be required andthe block thereafter secured by the screw 17.

The sound-box constructed as above described may be used either inrecording or reproducing sound; but owing to the form of point or stylusemployed it is specially adapted as a recorder. In order to obtain goodresults, it is necessary in reproducing to change the needle frequently,and I therefore preferably substitute for the recording-point anordinary straight needle or stylus 19, mounted, however, in the samemanner as shown in Fig. 6, but removably secured in a socket or tubularextension of the L-shaped arm by a set-screw 21.

In use either in recording or reproducing the diaphragm is practicallyfree to vibrate throughout its entire area, and the full forceand'effect of the sound-waves are thereby obtained. The wax on which thediaphragm is seated serves to elastically connect the same with its seatand has more or less yielding action as the diaphragm vibrates. Thusmount- ICO rounded quality generally. The use of an elastic mediumbetween the stylus-arm and the diaphragm also contributes largely inimproving the tone quality, as it yields on the outward vibration of thediaphragm, and thereby affords greater amplitude of movement with acorresponding increase of volume and clear-ness of tone on reproduction.Important advantages are secured in mounting the stylus-arm on aspring-metal wire in the manner described. The construction is extremelysimple, and the readiness and facility with which the wire may betensioned and such tension varied as desired proves both efiective andsatisfactory. This form of spring acts both ways and serves toyieldingly maintain the stylus and its arm in a central position. Aslight shifting of ,the

main carriage serves to complete the adjust- It will be understood thatI do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction and relativearrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, as variouschanges might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention. ample, the form of the sound-box casing might be changed,also the arrangement of the diaphragm and its seat therein, withoutnecessarily dispensing with the elastic medium employed as a yieldingconnection between the same. Other means for eifecting the adjustment ofthe stylus with relation to the diaphragm and for mounting the'stylusarmmight also be employed; but all such changes I consider obvious andimmaterial variations of form and not of substance and still within themeaning of the present invent-ion.,

Having therefore described my invention, I claim I 1. The combinationofa diaphragm, a stylus phonetically connected therewith, a springwirecarrier for the stylus, and means for stretching the wire to Vary itstension.

2. The combination of a diaphragm, astylus phonetically connectedtherewith, a torsionspring on which the stylus is mounted, supports forthe spring and means for adjusting the supports to regulate the tensionof the spring.

3. The combination ofa diaphragm, a stylus phonetically connectedtherewith, a springwire carrier for the stylus and fastenings for theends of the wire, one of said fastenings being adjustable to vary thetension of the wire.

4. The combination of a diaphragm, a spring mounted stylus phoneticallyconnected therewith, and a carrier for the stylus adjustable in a planeparallel with the face of the diaphragm.

5. The combination of a diaphragm, a stylus cooperating therewith, aspring-wire on which the stylus is mounted, an adjustable carrier forthe wire and means on the carrier for varying the tension of the wire.For ex- 1 vided interiorly with an annular seat, a dia- 6.The'combination of a sound-box prophragm elastically secured to theseat, a

stylus cooperating with the diaphragm, a

GEORGE K. CHENEY.

Witnesses:

W. H. PUMPHREY, L. E. PEARSON.

